Antetokounmpo scores 50 for Bucks; Pelicans lose 8th in row

MILWAUKEE(AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 50 points and 13 rebounds as theMilwaukee Bucks trounced New Orleans 135-110 on Sunday, handing thePelicans their eighth straight loss.

Anteotkounmpo’s 50 points were five off the career high he set Jan.4 in a123-113 victory over the Washington Wizards.Heshot 20 of 26 from the floor, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range,and went 7 of 12 on free-throw attempts.

The Bucksnever trailed and won their fourth straight as they opened afour-game homestand. They also reached the 130-point mark for thefifth time in their last seven games.

Jrue Holidayscored 17 and Brook Lopez added 15 for the Bucks, who shot55.2%.

Antetokounmpocollected 29 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone,helping the Bucks build a big lead early. This was Antetokounmpo’s10th game this season with at least 40 points, tying the careerhigh for 40-point games that he set last season.

New Orleanswas missing its top three scorers: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram(toe injury on left foot) and CJ McCollum (sprained right thumb).Jose Alvarado stepped up to lead the Pelicans with 18 points, whileTrey Murphy III and Jonas Valanciunas had 16 each.

Antetokounmpo’s sizzling start put the Pelicans in an early hole.The two-time MVP already had 16 points midway through the firstquarter. He went 8 of 9 for 18 points in that opening period,nearly matching New Orleans’ scoring total while helping the Bucksbuild a 37-19 advantage.

TIP-INS

Pelicans:Kira Lewis Jr. played for the first time since Jan. 18 and scored15 points. .... Larry Nance Jr. had a season-high 12 rebounds ...The Pelicans were outrebounded 57-38. They had a minus-11 reboundmargin Saturday against the Wizards.

Bucks:Antetokounmpo played his 695th career regular-season game to tieSidney Moncrief for second place on the Bucks’ all-time list. Thefranchise record is owned by Junior Bridgeman, who played 711regular-season games in two stints with the Bucks from 1975-84 and1986-87. ... Middleton came off the bench for a fourth straightgame as the Bucks continue to monitor the three-time All-Star’sworkload in his return from right knee soreness. Middleton hasplayed just 11 games this year, missing time first to recover fromoffseason wrist surgery and later to deal with his knee issue.

UPNEXT

Pelicans: AtDenver on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game road swing.The Pelicans have split two home matchups with the Nuggets thisseason.

Bucks: HostCharlotte on Tuesday.The Bucks won atCharlotte,and a month later lost to themat home.